Method and means of protecting corn, and the like, from worms



36- A. GARCIA I 2,056,514

METHOD AND MEANS OF PROTECTING CORN, AND THE LIKE FROM WORMS Filed May 14, 1935 II T TOR/MIX Patented Oct. 6, 1936 PATENT OFFICE METHOD AND MEANS OF PROTECTING CORN, AND THE LIKE, FROM WORMS Anselmo Garcia, Long Beach, Calif., assignor of thirty-five per cent to Fermor N.

Long Beach, Calif.

Coltrane,

Application May 14, 1935, Serial No. 21,367

'7 Claims.

My invention relates to a means and method of protecting corn, artichokes, and the like, from worms.

The objects of my invention are:

1. To provide a means for covering the silk end of an ear of corn to prevent a certain insect known as Chloridea obsoleta, from laying wormproducing eggs on the silk or silk end of the ear of corn, the covering means being so perforated as to permit the pollen from the tassel to pass thru onto the silk for fertilizing the same.

2. To provide a means of this character which is so shaped and formed that it may be readily placed upon the ear of corn.

3. To provide a means of this character in which the perforations in the protector are made so as to form ragged, inwardly extending portions to engage the ear of corn, these ragged portions forming a rough surface, thus providing a means for holding the protector on the ear of corn.

l. To provide a means of this character which is so folded and shaped in flat form that it may be readily pressed into open position for placement on the ear of corn.

5. To provide a new and novel means of protecting corn against certain worms.

6. To provide a means and method of this character which is very simple and economical in construction and operation and eflicient in its action.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from the accompanying drawing, the subjoined detailed description, and the appended claims.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a developed diagrammatic view of my protector showing the shape before being attached together at its edges.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of my protector showing the flat folded form with the overlapped edges up.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the protector shown in position on an ear of corn, ready for use, the corn being shown in dotted lines.

Figure 4 is a similar view showing the protector in longitudinal section.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view of the protector.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, my protector consists of a cover member of paper, either waterproof or non-waterproof, or of Cellophane, or of any other suitable material.

The protector is divided into four sections, l, 2, 3, and 4, integrally connected but folded at the edges of the sections, as shown by the solid lines in Fig. 1 of the drawing. It is provided with a plurality of perforations 5 which are perforated from the outer side inwardly, leaving the material with a jagged, rough edge 6 around the perforated portion at the inner side of the cover or protector member. The perforations 5 are preferably 1% of an inch in diameter, or smaller, the reason for this being that the eggs of the Chloridea obsoleta are T15 of an inch in diameter and are laid in a mass connected by a gelatinous-like material. The insect, upon laying the eggs upon the protector, will lay them in a mass, as previously stated, and the holes in the cover being smaller in diameter than the eggs, these eggs cannot pass thru the holes and lodge on the silk of the corn.

When the protector is folded together, as shown in Fig. 2, the edges may be clamped together by a metal clamp, or they may be glued together. It will be noted that the protector 20 when in position for use--is provided with definite folds, thus providing for its ready opening for rapid placement over the end of the ear of corn. When not in use, the protector is folded flat, as shown in Fig. 2, so that it may be packed in compact form.

My protector can also be used upon artichokes, protecting them against the plume moth (Platyptilz'a carduydaotyla), this moth laying the same form of egg as the Chloridea. obsoleta, and in the same gelatinous mass.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a means of the class described, a per forated cover member in conical form, said member having perforations therein and provided with roughened edges around the perforations, said member being adapted to fit over the silk end of an ear of corn, or the like, for enclosing the same, said cover member being folded so as to readily open in angular form in cross section.

2. In a means of the class described, a cover member of conical form, said cover member being perforated thruout its entire area and adapted to fit over the silk end of an ear of corn, each of said perforations being substantially 'i gth of an inch in diameter, said cover member being folded into a plurality of definite folds whereby upon pressure, it is adapted to open by bending at the folded portions so as to be readily placed on an ear of corn. 5

3. In a means of the class described, a Cellophane cover member of conical form, said cover member being perforated thruout its whole area and adapted to fit over the silk end of an ear of corn, said cover member being folded into a plurality of definite folds whereby upon pressure it is opened by bending at the folded portions so as to be readily placed on an ear of corn, said perforations being punched inwardly to provide jagged, roughened edges around the perforations.

4. The herein described method of protecting corn from worms, consisting .of covering the silk end of the ear of corn with a cover member, then perforating the same by punching to provide a rough edge around the perforations, said perforations being of lesser diameter than the eggs from which the Worms are hatched, then folding it and securing the edges together to form a cone.

5. In a means of the class describedya regenerated cellulose cover member of conical form perforated thruout its whole area adapted to fit over the silk end of an ear of corn, said cover member folded into a plurality of definitefolds whereby upon pressure it is opened by bending at the folded portions so as to be readily placed on an ear of corn.

6. In a means of the class described, a flexible translucent cover member of conical form perforated thruout its Whole area adapted to fit over the silk end of an ear of corn, said cover member folded into a plurality of definite folds whereby upon pressure it is opened by bending at the folded portions so as to be readily placed on an ear of corn, said perforations being punched inwardly to provide jagged roughened edges around the perforations.

'7. The herein described method of protecting cornfrom worms, consisting in coating paper, then perforating the same by punching to provide a ragged edge around said perforations, then folding it so as to provide easily bendable portions, then securing it together at its edges and forming a conical member, and then placing the same over the silk end of an ear of com.

I ANSELMO GARCIA. 

